HEADLINES

JAKARTA, BPK Public Relations – The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) virtually held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on "Implementing BPK’s Budget Independence” with the Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday. Opened by BPK Chairman Agung Firman Sampurna and Commission XI Vice Chairman Fathan Subchi, the FGD was attended by BPK Vice Chairman Agus Joko Pramono, Board Member I Hendra Susanto, Board Member II Pius Lustrilanang, Board Member III Achsanul Qosasi, Board Member IV Isma Yatun, Board Member V Bahrullah Akbar, Board Member VI Harry Azhar Azis, Board Member VII Daniel Lumban Tobing, and the Commission XI Members.

The BPK Chairman said that budget independence is an important issue frequently arose in recommendations given by Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of other countries when conducted peer reviews on the BPK in every five years.

"The BPK is considered not yet independent in terms of budget as it still has to depend on the executive rather than the legislative body. In fact, budget independence is very important in supporting BPK’s independence in carrying out its audit function," he said on the virtual FGD, which was also attended by BPK officials.

He further revealed that the peer review conducted in 2019 by SAIs of Poland, Norway, and Estonia recommended that the BPK needed to take steps to approach the government to have an open dialogue regarding the implementation of the BPK's budget independence.

"Based on the recommendation, the BPK is striving to realize its budget independence through formulation and refinement of the BPK 2020-2024 Strategic Plan," he explained. According to him, the budget independence would create a better organizational governance with continuous improvement of audit and institutional performances.

Meanwhile, BPK Vice Chairman Agus Joko Pramono in his presentation said that the Law had actually provided rooms for the BPK to independently formulate its budget, discuss it with the DPR then convey it to the government. However, in practice, the process of the BPK's budget planning was similar to those of other ministries/institutions.

"The BPK is considered as part of the state ministries or other institutions despite of its different form. The BPK does not routinely involve in cabinet meetings as it is not part of the government," he said.

The FGD was expected to obtain initial feedback or inputs from the Commission XI regarding BPK’s challenges in implementing its budget independence and the support provided with the issuance of a regulation on BPK’s planning and budgeting to strengthen its independence in budgeting.